British clergyman becomes first to have gay marriage

An Anglican chaplain defied the church’s ban on gay weddings over the weekend when he married his long-term partner.

Jeremy Pemberton – who is a chaplain at Lincoln Hospital – is thought to be the first clergyman in Britain to have a gay marriage, according to BBC News.

He married partner Laurence Cunnington at a hotel on Saturday (April 12) in front of friends and family, but may now face disciplinary action from the church.

The Bishop of Lincoln, the Right Reverend Christopher Lowson, commented on the marriage: “I am aware that a member of the clergy who works in the Diocese of Lincoln has married a partner of the same sex.

“The priest concerned wrote to me in advance to explain his intention and we had a subsequent meeting in which I explained the guidelines of the House of Bishops.”

He added: “The Church of England is shortly to enter a process of facilitated discussions about its response to same-sex marriage. I am committed to entering that process in a spirit of honesty and integrity, seeking to discern the spirit of God at work in the church as we seek to understand the nature of marriage in the future.”

Meanwhile, Pemberton tweeted: “Thank you to all well-wishers. Nay-Sayers: we can talk another time maybe? Signing off for now – my husband gets my time.”

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